Bailey Family
Jennifer and Bryce Riemer
Earl Schoonhoven
Rose Meier
Jeff Mueller, Dave Brethaur, Mike Brady
Gene and Carol Prudhon
Bernie Robertson
Sharon Kaminecki

Meet the Trail Explorers; individuals who enjoy outdoor recreation, set goals, and achieve them. Read their stories, view their pictures, and be inspired to join them.

At the end of the Badger Trail

Bailey Family
Al, Sara, Kathleen, and Melanie Bailey (ages 8. 12, and 40+) were the first to achieve Trail Explorers status. They did it in one trip over 4 days in July, 2008 traveling on a tandem and two single bicycles, biking from town to town and staying at hotels in New Glarus, Monroe, and Freeport with assistance from Bike Green County. As a family they are involved in geocashing so the scavenger hunt on the trail was a fun family activity. They documented all 9 questions with photos.

Starting out in Brodhead; In Belleville; In Orangeville

On the Badger Trail; At the Tunnel; Back in Brodhead, victorious and tired

Clarence Bridge Birds

Jennifer and Bryce Riemer
On Tuesday June 17, we started the Trail Explorers journey. We had been getting our bikes upgraded for our transition from a two car family to a one vehicle/bike commuting family and we wanted to test out our new gear. What better way to do it than become Trail Explorers?

We biked about 7 miles from rural Brodhead to downtown Brodhead to get the answer to our first trivia question. Then we rode to Albany and back to the farm again. This is a stretch of the trail we knew well, but each trip is a bit different. This trip included a stop on Clarence bridge for a photo shoot and attempting to avoid two snakes on the that were crossing the trail. It also included the biggest hill climb on a bike we can remember on County Hwy F between the Sugar River trail and our farm. As a runner, Jen wanted to dismount the bike and run it up the hill, but pride would not allow this. All in all, it was a successful 20 mile ride.

Jen at the New Glarus Depot

On Sunday June 22, we were dropped off at the trail head in Albany, to bike the rest of the Sugar River Trail. This trip included a quick ride to Monticello for lunch and a visit to New Glarus with a stop into the depot, Whistle Stop ice cream shop and a tour of downtown. Jen had never explored New Glarus before and we both truly enjoyed the Swiss town. On the trip home, the wildlife was the highlight. We came across a turtle and twin fawn's on the trail just south of New Glarus. Upon arriving in Albany we visited a friend's house just off the trail, then the storm rolled in. In true summer 2008 fashion, we had a torrential downpour, but we were fortunate to have made it to our friend's for shelter. When the storm let up a little we hitched a ride in our friends pickup back to the farm. This was the longest bike trip to date for a total of about 33 miles.

At the Pseudo Trail head of the Badger

On Wednesday July 9th we were very ambitious and took on the entire Badger/Jane Addams trail. We had a very difficult time finding access at the north end of the trail, but eventually started at a questionable spot. We biked about 1.5 miles north to Purcell Rd which is the current north end. We then started heading south counting trestle bridges and missing Bosco (I think).

Approaching the tunnel

The tunnel was the highlight of the trip. We could not believe the temperature drop as we approached the tunnel! With headlights in place we slowly made it through and snapped several pictures on both ends. We stopped in Belleville at the John Frederick Park for lunch and then headed off on the long slow lonely stretch of trail from Bellville to Monroe. With only a short stop on a trestle bridge south of Monticello, this was by far the most difficult part of the trail for us. We were happy to find a farmers market on the square in Monroe. We rested, we ate raspberries and local homemade goodies, and enjoyed the action on the town square from the shady lawn of the courthouse.

Fun with a turtle on the Sugar

The escape from "real life" to the trail is a time of rest and joy, even while working hard to propel our bikes forward. We encountered nature several times from the snake to the scared doe that ran ahead of us for 400 meters or more before leaping over a fence much taller than I would have imagined it could ever clear.

With renewed energy, we traveled from Monroe to Orangeville where we coordinated via cell phone (you gotta love technology at times like this) with our shag wagon who was driving down to Freeport.

Bryce at the State line

We hopped on our bikes knowing we were at least 45 minutes away from Freeport and turned on the home-stretch kick. We found our two girls with their grandparents waiting for us at the finish line. We strapped our bikes to the rack and made it to our 4-year-old niece's soccer game just in time! We biked exactly 47 miles in 4 hours which, for us, was a great accomplishment and something that even we doubted possible at times.

Now we are planning trips to other trails and looking forward to much more biking for commuting to work or just for fun! We are glad to be Trail Explorer's, but why stop there?

Badger Trail in Monroe

Earl Schoonhoven
May 12, 2008: Freeport to Orangeville - Good ride, good weather.

May 30, 2008: Orangeville to Monroe - Hard ride, very windy (20 mph). Found duck egg on trail.

Trail Head in Monticello

July 13, 2008: Monroe to Monticello - Another windy ride. Got checked by C.P.O. for Trail Pass. First time ever checked.

July 22, 2008: Monticello to New Glarus - Weather is very good but deer flys very bad.

July 24, 2008: Belleville to Paoli - 6:30am, got early start, 48 miles to Belleville. Weather is very good for bike ride. Got to Purcell road and the trail ends, but no Paoli! Acording to "Trail Explorers" the trail ends in Paoli.

At the State line

Aug 3,2008: Great day for a bike ride, 80 degrees, 18 miles on the Jane Addams.

Aug. 14, 2008: Great day for a bike ride, 77 degrees, no wind. Started at Albany to Monticello. Saw Dam in Albany.

Badger Trail in Belleville

Aug. 18: I'm on a mission today. Drove up to Belleville again. This time I'm looking for Sun Valley Parkway. Rode to Purcell Rd. and no Sun Valley Parkway, but I did find Bosco. The main thing is that I had a good ride.
Note: It was in May I rode from Brodhead to Albany. The Sugar River Trail is old, but still a great trail to ride.
I soon will be 74 years old and am thankful to my Lord and Savior for my health.

Rose Meier and Earl Schoonhoven with bikes

Rose Meier
I started riding about 6 years ago with my Dad, Earl Schoonhoven who rode the the Jane Adams Trail when it opened. My dad and I used to ride to the state line and look ahead at the unfinished Badger State Trail. And we would say " pretty soon they'll have it done. I sure can't wait." It did open and we do enjoy it!

Covered bridge on the Sugar River Trail

We also would ride the Sugar River Trail and we would look at the intersection where the badger state trail would be going. Now when we ride it it's fun to look back at those days when we were hoping it would get finished.

One of the many stone bluffs on the Badger Trail

When I saw the Trail Explorer Scavenger Hunt this spring, I thought it would be fun to try. It took me about 5 different trips to finish this. It was alot of fun and look forward to next year. These are some of the pictures I took along the way.

Starting with four riders one cold, chilly Oct. day.

Jeff Mueller, Dave Brethaur, Mike Brady
We knew we were interested in doing the Trail Explorers Program.

We knew we would have fun in the process.

Then the question came up; "what would be the best way to approach it?" A weekend trip...a multi-day adventure...? What about the logistics, the car shuttles, the back and forth? Work schedules, soccer practice? Getting the kids to the vet. Take the dog to the hypnotist. When would we be able to fit it all in? Then some IDIOT said "let's just do it in one day." All at once, everyone in the bunch (we happened to be out for a road bike ride at the time) said "sure, why not". A couple e-mails (and no arm twisting) later, it was a go.

We were supposed to start with five, then it dwindled to four (one being Kerry, who did not intend to ride the whole distance). So the four of us (Kerry, Dave, Mike, and Jeff) started out from the south end of the Jane Addams Trail, just outside of Freeport, IL, around 8:00 a.m. in chilly and foggy conditions October 18, 2008.

At the State line

The temperature kept us moving, as we were all trying to warm up just a bit. We passed through Orangeville, IL then Clarno, WI then Monroe, WI in short order. At the point that we crossed the state line we also began our journey on the Badger Trail. All along the way seeing lots of fall color that would drift towards our eyes through a damp mist that lingered well into the morning. The option of stopping for something to eat in Monroe was discussed. We all agreed that we were finally warm and we should just continue on. This is when those Power Bars and Jelly Belly Power Beans are a smart choice. We did stop for a bit, to shed a few layers and get some time off the saddle. Then onward to Monticello, WI.

If there are red cows, it must be New Glarus

In Monticello, Kerry had had enough of our shenanigans and arranged for a pick-up. The rest of us kept on riding, taking in more fall color and as the day was older now, we saw many more bikers and pedestrians along the way. We made our way to, and through, the Stewart Tunnel which is a neat experience any time of the year and any time of the day. We took a few moments to stop and listen to all the pigeons cooing in the dark tunnel that lay ahead. Then on to Belleville, WI and over the steel trestle bridge and on to Purcell Road where we had arranged for our first (and only) car shuttle of the day. This being at about the 50 mile mark. As luck would have it, we got to the pick up spot a while before our drivers did and we sat in the sun and gawked (and waved) at all the road cyclists that were out in force on Purcell Road. The day was most certainly well on its way to being perfect.

We got our car shuttle to New Glarus, WI, ate some lunch, then got started on our last leg of the journey,. By this time the day was warm, sunlight plentiful, and bikers and walkers were out in force. All ages, all abilities, but the one thing they had in common was that they were all having a good time. Now on the Sugar River Trail, we made it to Monticello in short order; . Onto Albany, WI then the last leg, the home stretch, to our final destination Brodhead!

Seventy miles, and I have no idea how many hours later, we had arrived at our final destination! On the last leg from Albany to Brodhead the suggestion came up "we should make this an annual event." I, for one, think that sounds like a great idea!

Stewart tunnel, trail end, fall color, stopping for a photo

Hopping on the Sugar River Trail, at the covered bridge

Gene and Carol and their bikes

Gene and Carol Prudhon
We had a great time on the trails, riding the two trails in five segments. We rode two of them by dropping off a vehicle so only had to ride one way. The others were out and backs. The most picturesque ride for us was from Belleville north in late October. We were in a darkened area in a canyon like setting with towering trees adding extra shade. The sun was behind us and the wind was driving some ash leaves through the brightly lit sky we could see ahead of us at the end of our darkened "tunnel". It was picture perfect fall in Wisconsin. My camera was forgotten at home. In recent past summers we found it too easy to procrastinate riding the trails. We appreciate the efforts put into creating the Trail Explorer program since it gave us a goal and got us out on our bikes. We hope to do this again next year.

A Trail Scene

Bernie Robertson
I completed the ride on 3 different dates (next year's goal is to complete it in 1 summer day when the days are longer--and warmer).

The things I always find interesting on the trail are the fauna, wildlife and other riders.

Needless to say, the changing color of the leaves is always spectacular, and this fall was no exception along the trail. The cold weather also helps diminish the presence of insects, except the soybean field I was riding adjacent to and they were harvesting (put your head down, keep your mouth closed and accelerate)!

Another benefit of riding in the fall is that wildlife is easier to view with fewer leaves. I had the opportunity to view the most wildlife along the Jane Addams Trail from Cedarville to Freeport. I saw many deer cross the trail, lots of snakes on the trail sunning themselves and numerous squirrels gathering nuts for the short warm winter we are going to experience this year (sounds like someone ready for spring)!

Few riders were encountered on the trail but I did have a couple of interesting experiences while riding the Once in a Blue Moon on the Trail event the evening of October 18th. After visiting the Haunted Mill in Orangeville, I had Beetle Juice attempt to catch me while I was riding my bicycle. He gave it a valiant effort but these old legs can still spin when necessary. The second interesting experience also involved "spinning", spinning of car tires as I came upon a couple who had decided to "park" on the badger Trail south of Clarno Road (sorry, no pictures)!

Here's to a short winter with little snow!

Spring on the Badger Trail

Sharon Kaminecki
I planned on riding the entire trail in the spring but the demands of work and rain on many of my days off prevented me from finishing it until the fall. It took 5 trips, riding the Jane Addams trail for the first time this year on the night of the Blue Moon ride to Orangeville in mid-October and then the last segment from Orangeville to Wes Block Access a week later.

Summer on the Sugar River Trail

Riding over three seasons has it benefits. You experience the fresh new growth in the spring, lush foilage (and bugs!) in the summer, and color and crunch of leaves and that wonderful woodsy smell in the fall.

Fall on the Jane Addams Trail

My favorite parts of the trail system in Southern Wisconsin are the areas south of the Stewart Tunnel (you are up so high and the view is fabulous) and the sense of time standing still, pastoral settings, and the canopy of trees in Illinois. Most days I commute on my bike on the southern section of the Sugar River trail, so many of the trees and bushes on that part have become as familiar as old friends.